"He was present, he was represented by Mathews Phosa," said Hanekom, who is also an ANC national executive committee member and deputy minister of science and technology.

He said the disciplinary hearing lasted until 16:30 and was adjourned to Tuesday next week.

This was after ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu maintained throughout the day that the organisation was unaware of proceedings against Malema for his recent public utterances.

"What are you talking about? Where do you get all these things?" he said when asked to clarify conflicting reports on Malema's attendance.

The hearing would reportedly tackle Malema's singing of an anti-apartheid song with the lyrics "shoot the boer", calling a BBC journalist a "bastard" and "bloody agent" and undermining South Africa's role as a mediator in Zimbabwe.

ANC spokesperson Brian Sokutu said the organisation would not be commenting on the matter at least until the disciplinary hearing had run its course.

"That matter is being kept under wraps. I don't think the movement wants to comment on the matter.

"The movement wants the process to takes its course to give the hearing a chance before it says anything," said Sokutu.